Monday, October 01, 2012

Stormy Weather: The Meteorological Music of Nathalie Miebach

Continuing the concept for our last post of science data transformed into music, here's a remarkable project by Boston artist Nathalie Miebach that turns weather data into stunning sculptures and crazy musical scores. And somehow the Violent Femmes are involved. Some of the scores have been brought to life by another gal from Bean-Town, pianist Elaine Rombola. An album is planned, but 'til then, there are four free mp3s up for download on this page:Sculptural Musical ScoresThe piano pieces are short (around two minutes) and pleasant. "Storms" is busy, as one would expect, and "Journey" thankfully sounds nothing like "Don't Stop Believin'," but rather is low-key, reminiscent of Cage's "In A Landscape." The other two downloads are both 17 minute-long interpretations of a hurricane. One is by the 6-member Axis Ensemble. I quite like the version by the Milwaukee chamber group Nineteen Thirteen, for cello, percussion, and drums. Really nice 'n' moody, like a waterlogged Gorecki Symphony No. 3. Produced by and performing on percussion is none other than Victor DeLorenzo of the Violent Femmes. Sounds nothing like Lena Horne.